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It squealed as he took off.

And I did what I had to.

I kept driving.

But slower.

More in control.

And I went ahead and pretended not to hear the pops of the gunshots as they rang out behind me.

I got just past the curve and pulled off onto the grass on the shoulder.

I gave myself one second to lean my head back and breathe.

Then I jumped out, grabbing my purse and Lainey’s diaper bag, then rushing around the car to pull the still-screaming Lainey out of her seat.

“I know. I’m so sorry, baby. I’m sorry,” I cooed at her, rocking her on the side of the road as headlights sliced through the night, approaching at a breakneck pace, but eerily silently.

I knew from talking with Coast that Eddie, Sass, Che, and Donovan loved street racing back in the day. And they all still had really fancy cars. The kind that purred instead of roared.

Soon enough, the car was sliding across the center line, slowing down, then doing a quick K-turn.

Even as the car stopped, Sass was leaning over the center console to push the passenger side door open.

“I don’t have a backseat,” she said, giving me a tight look. “But I’ll do a granny tap and mind every bump in the road.”

She was a mom herself.

She knew how much I hated the idea of putting my baby in a car without a seat, even if she was in my arms, but desperate times meant we had to accept less-than-ideal situations.

I climbed in.

And as promised, Sass slowly pulled off.

It was only maybe an eight-minute drive back to the clubhouse.

By the time we pulled into the driveway, Jade was already standing in the driveway, ready to sweep the hiccuping and snot-covered Lainey from my arms and start to comfort her as I walked on numb legs into the clubhouse.

Where I promptly dropped down onto a chair in the kitchen.

And let out all of the terror and anxiety.

My body shook.

My sobs filled the room.

And all the while, Sass sat beside me, her hand sliding up and down my spine and offering me tissues until I nearly went through a whole box.

“Okay. I got the little munchkin cleaned up, changed, fed, and down,” Jade said, coming back into the kitchen and immediately going to the coffee machine.

“Thank you.”

“I was happy to. You two needed a chance to regulate.”

“Shouldn’t the guys be back by now?” I asked, sniffling.

“Well,” Sass started, sharing a look with Jade.